Ezekiel 21:16

16 Sword, cut on the right side; then cut on the left side. Cut anywhere your blade is turned.

Ezekiel 21:16 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 21:16

Go thee one way or another
Go to some one place: or "unite thyself" ^F1; to other swords, or join other soldiers holding swords; the address is to the sword, to steer its course some one way, and slay as it goes along, sparing none: either on the right, or on the left; or south, or north;
so the Targum,

``unsheathe, and slay on the south, and destroy on the north:''

whithersoever thy face is set;
or prepared, as the Targum, or appointed for destruction; this is the usual interpretation: but why may not the words be an apostrophe to the prophet, to go alone or single, either to the right or left, south or north, as his face was set, ( Ezekiel 21:2 ) , sighing and crying, smiting his hands together, in order to affect the minds of the people with the sense of their calamities coming upon them?

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (ydxath) "unito Montanus", Piscator, Polanus; "unitor te", Starckius; "in unum dirigitor", Cocceius.

Ezekiel 21:16 In-Context

14 "So, human, prophesy and clap your hands. Let the sword strike two or three times. It is a sword meant for killing, a sword meant for much killing. This sword surrounds the people to be killed.

15 Their hearts will melt with fear, and many people will die. I have placed the killing sword at all their city gates. Oh! The sword is made to flash like lightning. It is held, ready for killing.

16 Sword, cut on the right side; then cut on the left side. Cut anywhere your blade is turned.

17 I will also clap my hands and use up my anger. I, the Lord, have spoken."

18 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying: